The Rockies averaged 1.5 runs and 4.5 hits in the first two games of this series. You have to improve on that in order to avoid a sweep, except when you don't. Thank you very much, Aaron Lane Cook.
The Cookie Monster was dominant all afternoon, as we have come to expect in Cincinnati. The right-hander tossed seven scoreless innings, striking out a season-high-tying eight, walking one (intentionally) and allowing six hits - two as infield hits. He had a 12-4 groundout to flyout ratio and needed just 82 pitches to finish his seven innings. That is exactly what the Rockies needed.
After today's game, Cook is now 3-0 with a 2.55 ERA (2.95 FIP) in six appearances (five starts) in Cincinnati, which is 25miles from his hometown of Hamilton, Ohio.
As for the offense, there was hardly anything there. Ryan Spilborghs singled in the fourth, followed soon thereafter by a line drive single from Chris Iannetta. The Rockies' catcher provided the only run in the game when he turned on a 2-2 changeup from Reds starter Travis Wood for a home run in the sixth, important for Iannetta, as he wasted a prime scoring opportunity in the second by grounding into a double play with two on and no out.
Still, the three hits off Wood represent the second-most any team has managed off the lefty in his four career MLB starts. Grabbing at straws again? Yeah....definitely. Let's get out-of that "bandbox" in Cincinnati and get our offense better in Miami.
Cincinnati nearly pulled out a tie in the ninth, as Drew Stubbs blooped a single and Ryan Hanigan lined a single to center with one out on Huston Street. The Rockies closer managed to "slide" out of the jam by striking out the side, all three with sliders down and away.
WPA Heroes:
Aaron Cook (+.387): 7.0 IP, 0 R, 6 H, 1 IBB, 5 K, HBP, 82 pitches. 0-for-3, 3 K's.
Huston Street (+.192): 1.0 IP, 2 H, 3 K.
Chris Iannetta (+.094): 2-for-4, HR, RBI, R, GIDP.
WPA Zeroes:
Clint Barmes (-.156): 1-for-4, IF 1B
Carlos Gonzalez (-.089): 0-for-4, 2 K's.
Jonathan Herrera (-.076): 0-for-4.
Row Call:
butterfly, The jDub, SDcat09, wolf213, Andrew T. Fisher, The Lodo Magic Man, Paleface Destro, GoRockies!!, controlled_slide, WolfMarauder, Hollidayrain, Junction Rox, holly96, Gr3yStreet, DTown_Rox, MileHighMadness, WalkInRight, Maria M, Roxman, pedalpusher, Oldfoagie, SpringStein, free7694, ClydePaints, BittenAnkles
Total Users: 25
Total Posts: 835
Total Threads: 1